A premolar treated with resin build-up instead of a crown in Jeju

The initial photograph did not show a large open cavity. The decay was at the contacts with neighbouring teeth, where a view from above could not show the full internal condition.

A dark area extended inward from the side of the premolar. This was the area damaged by decay that required treatment.

During treatment, damage on both sides became visible. The chewing surface and both contacts with neighbouring teeth needed restoration.

A crown would require additional preparation to provide room for the restoration. To make use of the remaining tooth, vital pulp therapy was followed by resin build-up.

Vital pulp therapy aims to preserve living pulp inside the tooth. Treatment and protection are selected according to its condition, followed by sealing and restoration of tooth form.

The white strip in the photograph is fibre placed within the resin. In a restoration involving both side surfaces and the chewing surface, it may help distribute forces and limit crack propagation.

The blue rubber dam isolates the area from saliva. After establishing the bonding environment, fibre and resin were used to rebuild the tooth.

Resin restored the neighbouring contacts and chewing surface. Considering natural tooth structure and its response to forces while preserving remaining tooth is part of the biomimetic approach.

The amount and condition of sound tooth determine treatment. Some teeth need a crown or root canal treatment; fibre reinforcement does not eliminate fracture risk, and follow-up remains necessary.